Hoist control means



- Sept 16, 1947- R. c. osGooD 2,427,471

HOIST CONTROL MEANS Filed Jan. l2, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 16, 1947.

R. c. osGoOD HOIST CONTROL MEANS Filed Jan. l2. 1942 l3 Sheets-Sheet 2SP 16, 1947. R. c. osGooD 2,427,471 t HOIST CONTROL MEANS Filed Jan. 12,1942 is sheets-sheet s Patented Sept. 16, 1947 HOIST CONTROL S Robert C.Osgood, Claremont, N. H., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, acorporation of Pennsylvania Application January 12,1942, Serial No.426,417

Claims. r(Cl. 254-185) l This invention relates to hoisting mechanismsand moreeparticularly to improved control means for such mechanisms.

. During the operation of a hoist, it is necessary frequently to connectthe drums in driven relation with driving means, and to disconnect themtherefrom. It is desirable that the connection of the drums to thedriving means -be made gradual so that a sudden tension onlthe drumropes is avoided, and so lthat a strain is not put on the drivingconnections. It is also desirable that a. quick disconnection of thedrums from the driving connections be made possible so that a finecontrol of the device operated by the drum ropes may be obtained.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved hoist. It isanother object to provide improved means,k for controllnig the operationof a hoist. Still another object is to provide improved control meansfor a hoist whereby a gradual connection of the drums in driven relationwith driving means is obtained. .Another object is to provide improvedmeans for disconnecting quickly the drums of a hoist from drivenrelation with a driving means. Still another object is to provideimproved means whereby an operator stationed at a point distant from ahoist may control its operation to obtain a gradual connection of thedrums in driven relation with driving means and a quick disconnection ofthe drums fromv the same. Another object is to provide improved meansfor controlling the flow of operating fluid relative to a duid actuatedbrake control device for a hoist. These and other objects of theinvention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

- with the remote control means therefor, and

connected for controlling the operation of a scraper. i

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention, the improved controlmeans is shown associated `with a hoist generally designated I, of thescraper loading type, but it is evident that this control means may be.associated with hoists of various other types. The hoist is shownmounted on a base 2 having a plane bottom surface 3 and upturned ends 4for slidably supporting the hoist over a mine floor, or for permanentassociation with a loading slide. Extending upwardly from the base andsuitably secured thereto are supports 6, I and 8.' Attached to thesuppor., 6. as by bolts 9, is a motor ID having its power shaft II v(shown in Fig. 3) horizontally disposed and ex- Inthe accompanyingdrawings there is shown y for purposes of illustration one form whichthe invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings: y Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a hoist withwhich my invention is associated.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevational view, with parts shown in sectionto facilitate illustration, of the hoist shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the hoist shown in Fig.l, and taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with parts omitted.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, with par shown in full, of acontrol valve associated with the hoist of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a. vertical sectional view, with parts shown in full, of thecontrol valve taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammaticplan view of the hoist 'ber I2. Fixed to the`lend of the power shaft within the chamber I2 isa motor pinion I4 whichmeshes with a gear I5 xed to a shaft IB journaled at its ends inbearings I'I carried by the support 6. Fixed to the shaft I 6 is a spurgear I8 meshing with a gear I9 fixed to one end of a longitudinallyextending horizontal driving or transmission shaft 20."

The chamber I2 is adapted to receive lubricant through an opening closedbyV a. plug 2| to provide a lubricant bath for the bearings I1 and thegears arranged within the chamber. order to prevent the escape oflubricant from the chamber along the power shaft II. there is provided aclose fit between the shaft and the motor casing at 22, and an `oil ring23 surrounding the shaft and engaging the walls of the opening throughthe motor-casing. Arranged in an an- `nular groove formed in the support6 and surrounding the transmission shaft 2K0 is a sealing ring v--24,engaging one face of the gear I9 for preventing the escape -oflubricant from the chamber I2 along the transmission shaft. j 'i In thisinstance, the horizontal transmission shaft 20 is arranged coaxialwiththe motor power shaft and is journaled in alined ball bearings 25 ssupported within the supports 6, 'I ands. Se-

cured, as by keys 26, to the shaft 20 are spur pinions 21, v,28 and 29,each meshing with two vplanetary drum driver gears 3B, as shown in Fig.3. The gears 30 are .journaled on ball bearings 3 3| supported by stubshafts 32 which are carried by cable winding drums 33, 34 `and 35. Thestub shafts are arranged in parallel bores 36 formed in the drum bodieswith their axes lying in a diametric plane including the axis of theshaft and at opposite sides of the shaft.

The drums 33 and 34 are arranged betweenv the supports 6 and 1, and thedrum'35 is arranged between the supports 1 and 8, and each drum isjournaled on ball bearings 38, 39 sup-v ported by the transmission shaft20. .Surroundingv the pairs of drum driver gears and meshing with thelatter, are internal gears 40 connected, as by bolts 4|, to supportmembers 42 Vwhich are journaled on bearings 43 carried by the shaft 20'.Connected to the internal gears 40 at their sides adjacent the drums areannular flanged members 45 cooperating with annular shoulders 46 formedon the drums to enclose the drum driver gears in chambers which areadapted to contain a lubricant bath. On the outer periphery of eachinternal gear 40 is formed a brake surface 48 which is adapted to beengaged by a brake band 49 in a manner which will later be described.Formed on the -end of each drum re- 25 mote from the internal gear 40 isa braking surface 50 with which a brake band 5| cooperates. These brakebands 5| constitute spinning brakes for preventing rotation of the drumsin an unwinding direction when the latter are disconnected from theirdriving means. To effect an application of the spinning brakes with thesurfaces 50 on the drums, there is provided for each brake, as shown inFig. 2, a lever 52 pivotally connected at its inner end to the base 2and carrying an adjustable weight 53 at its outer end, and the brakeband is connected at one of its ends to the lever 52 at a point betweenthe pivotedend of the latter and the weight 53, `while the other end ofthe band is connected by suitable means, not shown, to the base 2.

It will be seen that if the brake bands 49 are moved into engagementwith the brake surfaces 48l on the internal gears to hold the latterstationary relative to the supporting frame for the 45 hoist, the drumdriver gears 30 will be caused to travel around the inner periphery ofthe internal gears as the driver gears are rotated by the gearsconnected to the transmission shaft 20. Since the driver gears aremounted on stub 50 shafts Xed to the drums, the latter will be caused torotate and wind in the cable or rope. The spinning brakes 5| arearranged so as to release themselves when the drums are being driven towind in the cable. If the brake bands 49 are released from the surfaces48, the internalgears wil1 be caused to rotate on driving of the gears30, and the drums will be held stationary by the slight\drag of `thespinning brakes and by the ropes on the drums. When the tensions on theropes increase, the drums are rotated in an un.y winding' direction andthe spinning-brakes take a firm/er grip so that the drums willbes'toppedagain when ropetensions decrease.

In Fig, 6 the hoist is shown with its drum 34 having apull rope 6| woundthereon and extending to a scraper; 62 to which it is connected. Woundon the drums, 33 and 35 are tail ropes 63 and 64 extending aroundpulleys anchored at distant points and connected to the scraper 62.

Surrounding each of the drums isa rope guard 65 having depending bottomflanges 66, as shown in Fig. 1, which are attached to the base frame 2,aspby bolts 61. Each of the rope guards is provided with top and bottomopenings 68 through which the rope Wound on 'the drum may be extendedfrom the top or bottom of the drum, respectively, and the opening notbeing used may be closed by a cover plate 69. In order to brace the ropeguards in their upright positions, there is provideda plate 10 connectedto each of lthe rope guards, as by bolts 1 I.

'Ihe means for controlling the application of the brakes 49 to the outersurfaces of the internal gears 40 will now be described. As shown inFig. 2, the brake 49 controlling the driving of the drum 35 haspivotally connected to one of its ends, at 14, a lever 15. An adjustab1elink 16 is pivotally connected at 11 to4 the other end of the brake 49,and is pivotally connected at 18 to the lever 15 so that on upwardswinging movement of the lever the brake 49 is pulled tightly around theinternal gear 40 for holding the latter against rotation. The brakes 49for controlling the driving of the drums 33 and 34 are similarlyprovided with operating levers 15 and links 16. Pivotally connected tothe outer end of each of the levers 15-is rod 80 having a piston 8|connected to its lower end. The pistons 8l for the brakes controllingthe driving of the drums 33, 34 and 35 are received, respectively,within cylinders 82,V

834 and 84. Connected to the upper end of each of the cylinders is apacked cylinder head 85v through which the rod extends, and arrangedbetween each cylinder head and piston is a coil spring 86 whichcontinuously urges the pistonl toward the lower end' of the cylinder formoving its lever 15 in a direction to effect a release of the brake 49.Communicating with the lower ends of the cylinders 82, 83 and 84 areconduits 81, 88 and 89, respectively, and these conduits are connectedto valve devices, generally designated 90, 9| and 92, which control theflow of pressure fluid relative to the cylinders beneath the -pistons8|.

The valve devices 90, 9| and 92 are similar in construction, and eachcomprises, as shown in Figs.v 4 and 5, a valve casing 93 provided with abore 94 having spaced ann'ular grooves 95, 96 and 91 formed in the wallsthereof, the bore at its ends opening into enlarged bores 98 and 99 atthe ends of the casing. Arranged at`the top of the casing is a diaphragm00 clamped in position by ahousing |0| secured to the valve casing inany suitable manner. The diaphragm cooperates with the bore 98 to form achamber |02 which is connected to atmosphere through an exhaust port|03. Between the diaphragm and the housing I0| is a chamber |04 openingthrough a port |05 into a chamber |06 which contains a valve- |01 of theplunger type for controlling communication between the `chambers |04 and|06. Arranged within the upper portion of the housing |0| is anelectromagnet |08 which is adapted, when energized, to lift the plungervalve |01 for opening the port |05. Reciprocable within the bore 94 arevalve pistons |09 connect-- ed together in spaced relation by a. pistonrod ||0 which is connected at its upper end to the diaphragm |00 andwhich has a reduced portion at its lower end reciprocably guided in a.bore formed in a plug 2 threaded into the bore 99. A coil spring ||3surrounds thel lower portion of the piston rod H0 and acts between theplug |I2 and the lower piston |09 to urge the valve pistons and thediaphragm toward their upper positions. Opening through the valve casinginto the annular groove 96 is a port ||5 into which there is threaded anipple Ill having l restricted passage I|1. These nipples may be changedto provide the desired llow area, different nipples having differentsized ports ||1 being of course possible. Threadedly connected to thenipple i s a conduit ||8 communicating with a pressure fluid supplyconduit ||9. Opening through the valve casing into the annular i in thehousing |0| is an adjustable needle valve |26 for controlling the iiow.of uid from the chamber |04 through a port |21 to a passage |28 openinginto the chamber |02. The valve devices are connected to plates |29 bymembers |30 threaded into openings in the plates, as shown in Fig. 4,and the plates are connected to the end of the base 2v as by bolts |3I.Connected to the electromagnets of the valve devices 90, 9| and 92 arecircuits |32, |33 and |34 leading to a remote control switch |35 whichis adapted to connect the circuits selectively to a power line |36.

When the control switch is operated to connect one of the circuits tothe power line, the electromagnet connected in that circuit is energizedand lifts the valve |01 to open the port |05. Pressure fluid is suppliedcontinuously from the supply conduit ||9 through the restricted port |1to the annular groove 96, and. when the valve |01 is moved from the port|05, pressure fluid ilows from the groove 96 through the passage |23,past the check valve |24, through the passage |25, and through the port|05 to the chamber |04 where it acts on the top of the diaphragm |00 toforce the valve pistons |09 downwardly against the spring ||3 and placethe groove 96 in communication with the groove 95. Pressure fluid isdelivered from the groove.95 through one of the conduits 81, 88 and 89,depending on which valve device is operated, to the lower end of one ofthe cylinders, 02, 83 and 84 for moving the piston in that cylinderupwardly and effecting an actuation of one of the brakes 49 to itsbraking position. Due to the restricted passage ||1, the supply ofpressure iluid will be such as to effect only a gradual application ofthe brake 49 for gradually placing the load of the hoist on its drivingmotor.

If it is desired to disconnect one of the hoist drums from drivenrelation with the motor, the

control switch |35 is operated to open the circuit to the electromagnetof one of the valve devices so that its valve |01 is released and closesthe port |05 to prevent the flow of pressure iluid to the chamber |04above the diaphragm. Pressure fluid escapes continuously from thechamber |04 past the needle valve |26, through the passage |28 to thechamber |02 where it is vented to atmosphere through the vent port |03.The rate of escape of pressure uid from the chamber is regulated byadjustment of the needle valve so that it is somewhat less than the rateof supply to the chamber when the valve |01 is open, but is suiilcientto reduce the pressure in the chamber |04, soon after the valve |01 isclosed, to a value at which the spring ||3 moves the valve pistons I 09upwardly cutting oi the supply of pressure fluid to the brake controlcylinder and connecting this cylinder in communication with the bore 99from which the pressure fluid is rapidly vented to atmosphere throughthe passage |22 and the vent port |03# By operating the valve devicesthrough the remote control switch so that the drums 33 and 35 are causedto rotate ln a winding direction, and so that the drum 34 may unwind,the'druin ropes 63 and 64 are wound in while the rope 0| is paid out,and the scraper 62 is moved outwardly from the hoist. To move thescraper in the op`- posite direction, the valve devices are operated tocause the drum 34 to rotate 'in a direction to wind in its rope whilethe drums 33 and 35 are permitted to rotate in an unwinding direction.As any one of the drums is connected in driven relation with the motor,.its load is gradually picked up due to the restricted flow of pressurefluid to its brake operating-piston, and the stalling of the motor isprevented. The drums are disconnected quickly from driven relation dueto the rapid venting of pressure fluid from the brake operating pistons,and a close control of the scraper or other cable operated device ismade possible.

As a result of this invention there are provided improved means forcontrolling the operation of a hoist. It will be noted that by reason ofthe improved control, means, a gradual loading of the hoist motor isobtained when the hoist drums are connected in driven relation with themotor, and that the drums may be quickly disconnected from drivenrelation with the motor, when desired. It will further be noted that theimproved control means are adapted to provide the' desired control ofoperation of the hoist by an operator stationed at any distant point.Other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically ed and embodied invarious other forms which do not depart from its spirit and the scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y

l. In a hoisting machanism, in combination, a hoisting drum, drivingmeans for said drum, fluid actuated means for controlling the connectionof said drum in driven relation with said driving means, and meansincluding a control valve for controlling the ilow of uid to said fluid,

actuated means, said control valve including a valve casing having fluidsupply and exhaust spaces therein, a valve member movable in said casingto connect said fluid supply and exhaust spaces selectively to saidfluid actuated means, restricted passage means for delivering' pressureuid to said lluidv supply space, fluid actuated means for positioningsaid valve member, valve controlled passage means for supplyingoperating fluid to said last mentioned fluid actuated means` and meansfor restrictedly venting operating fluid from said last mentioned uidactuated means.

2. In a hoisting mechanism, in combination, a hoisting drum, drivingmeans for said drum, uid actuated means for controlling the connectionof said drum in driven relation with said driving means, and meansincluding a control valve for controlling the flow of fluid to saidfluid actuated means, said control valve including a valve casing 7having fluid supply and exhaust spaces therein, a valve member movablein said casing to con nect said fluid supply and exhaust spacesselectively to said fluid actuated means, restricted passage -means fordelivering pressure fluid to said fluid supply space, means for freelyventing said exhaust space, fluid actuated means for positioning saidvalve member, means including an electromagnetically operated valve forcontrolling the supply of operating fluid to said last mentioned uidactuated means, remote control means for said electromagneticallyoperated valve, and means for restrictedly venting operating fluid fromsaid last mentioned fluid actuated means 3. In a hoisting mechanism, incombination, a hoisting drum, driving means for said drum, fluidactuated means for controlling the connection of said drum in drivenrelation with said driving means, and means including a control valvefor controlling the flow of fluid to said fluid actuated means, saidcontrol valve including a valve casing having fluid supply and exhaustgrooves therein, a valve member movable in said casing to connect saidfluid supply and exhaust grooves selectively to said fluid actuatedmeans, means including a diaphragm for controlling the position of saidvalve member, restricted passage means for delivering pressure fluid tosaid fluid supply groove, valve controlled passage means for supplyingpressure fluid to said diaphragm, and means for restrictedly ventingpressure fluid from said diaphragm.

4. In a' hoisting mechanism, in combination, a hoisting drum, drivingmeans for said drum, fluid actuated means for connecting said drum indriven relation with said driving means when pressure fluid is suppliedthereto, means including a control valve movable to fluid supply and uidventing positions for controlling the flow of fluid relative to saidfluid actuated means, said last mentioned means operative in the fluidsupply -position of said control valve to supply a restricted ow f uidto said fluid actuated means and operative in the venting position ofsaid control valve to exhaust fluid freely from said fluid actuatedmeans, fluid actuated means'for positioning I said control valve, meansincluding a valve member for controlling the flow of fluid relative tosaid last mentioned fluid actuated means, and means for controlling saidvalve member.

5. In a hoisting mechanism, in combination, a hoisting drum, drivingmeans for said drum, fluid actuated means for connecting said drum indriven relation with said driving means when pressure fluid is suppliedthereto, means including a control valve movable to fluid supply andfluid venting positions for controlling the flow of fluid relative tosaid fluid actuated' means, said last mentioned means operative in thefluid supply position of said control valve to supply a restricted flowof fluid to said fluid actuated means and operative in the ventingposition of said control valve to exhaust fluid freely from saidfiuidactuated means, fluid actuated means for positioning said controlvalve and operative on the supply of pressure fluid theretov for movingsaid control valve to its fluid supplying position, means including avalve member for controlling the flow of fluid to said last mentionedfluid actuated means, and remote control means for controlling saidvalve member.

ROBERT C. OSGOOD.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record inthe ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,254,083 Nickles et al Aug. 26,1941 2,159,610 West May 23, 1939 1,971,351 Osgood Aug. 128, 19341,834,598 Osgood Dec. 1, 1931 1,460,164 Loughead June 26, 1923 1,319,008King et al. Oct. 14, 1919

